Issue Shifting to from 9th to 8th Cog on 9 speed cassete

Okay I got a new slx 9 speed derauiller and deore 9 speed shifters and 9 speed sram cassette. Everything was installed and worked great and is less then a month old. For some reason I am now having some hesitation shifting from the 9th cog to the 8th cog (second smallest).

From what I remember it shifted almost instantaneously (about a quarter of a pedal rotation). Now it seems to click and hesitate a bit but still shifts but it takes almost a full pedal rotation). I cant seem to figure it out. I have tried everything. At this point I even replaced the cable housing and housing end caps and installed new cable all together and still the issue persists. I took the hanger off as well and laid it on a piece of glass its perfectly straight no bends.

All other shifting is crisp and perfect it just that one shift. The only thing I can think of at this point is maybe there is a issue with the shifter itself and its not clicking and locking far enough to put the derailleur in the correct position.

One other thing to note. Turning the barrel adjuster counter clockwise seems to have no effect at all on this particular gear shift it does not make the shift quicker which I always remember it doing before. Even if I turn it further then it should be it still the same delay in the 9th to 8th cog shift. It definitely effects all the other gears though so I know its working.

Issue Shifting to from 9th to 8th Cog on 9 speed cassete

Originally Posted by Strife21

Okay I got a new slx 9 speed derauiller and deore 9 speed shifters and 9 speed sram cassette. Everything was installed and worked great and is less then a month old. For some reason I am now having some hesitation shifting from the 9th cog to the 8th cog (second smallest).

From what I remember it shifted almost instantaneously (about a quarter of a pedal rotation). Now it seems to click and hesitate a bit but still shifts but it takes almost a full pedal rotation). I cant seem to figure it out. I have tried everything. At this point I even replaced the cable housing and housing end caps and installed new cable all together and still the issue persists. I took the hanger off as well and laid it on a piece of glass its perfectly straight no bends.

All other shifting is crisp and perfect it just that one shift. The only thing I can think of at this point is maybe there is a issue with the shifter itself and its not clicking and locking far enough to put the derailleur in the correct position.

One other thing to note. Turning the barrel adjuster counter clockwise seems to have no effect at all on this particular gear shift it does not make the shift quicker which I always remember it doing before. Even if I turn it further then it should be it still the same delay in the 9th to 8th cog shift. It definitely effects all the other gears though so I know its working.

I will try redoing everything again when I get home. If it doesn't work after that I guess Ill have to take it to the shop and let them realign since I don't have the tool. Would the B tension screw cause an issue like this?

I have a old hanger that is the same type that the bike shop straightened out for me in the past using that tool that I can try as well. At least then Ill have an idea if it has something to do with it.

Issue Shifting to from 9th to 8th Cog on 9 speed cassete

Originally Posted by Strife21

I have a old hanger that is the same type that the bike shop straightened out for me in the past using that tool that I can try as well. At least then Ill have an idea if it has something to do with it.

I will add, if it takes more than a few clicks of the barrel adjuster to make the first shift, you need to completely release the shifter, disconnect the cable from the RD. Run the barrel adjuster out 1-1.5 full turns from all the way in. Then pull the cable snug and reattach.

I like to do the fine tune (as mentioned on the Park site) on the third smallest cog, after making sure it took 2 clicks of the shifter to get there.

Yea I have followed all those instructions perfectly. The shift works in about one full rotation of the pedals but I know it was much shorter before. Turning the barrel adjuster is not making the shift from 9th to 8th any quicker tho. The shift from 8th to 7th is like butter. The issue is only getting from the 9th to 8th cog for some reason. It wasn't like this before and just started happening which is why I am confused.

I followed those directions to a T, and I have setup this bike numerous times so I am pretty familiar with those instructions you linked. That is why I am so baffled.

Issue Shifting to from 9th to 8th Cog on 9 speed cassete

Originally Posted by Strife21

Yea I have followed all those instructions perfectly. The shift works in about one full rotation of the pedals but I know it was much shorter before. Turning the barrel adjuster is not making the shift from 9th to 8th any quicker tho. The shift from 8th to 7th is like butter. The issue is only getting from the 9th to 8th cog for some reason. It wasn't like this before and just started happening which is why I am confused.

I followed those directions to a T, and I have setup this bike numerous times so I am pretty familiar with those instructions you linked. That is why I am so baffled.

Classic bent hanger symptoms.

But many times I have also seen this issue fixed using the addendum I posted.

You have probably already seen this but give it a quick read. I thought I understood everything and was still missing a few basics. Derailer Adjustment
This also helped me Bicycle Maintenance: How To Adjust a Rear Derailleur - YouTube
It honestly sounds like your just not setting your low screw adjustment correctly or maybe your index screw is off. If your indexing screw is not set correctly the teeth on your gears will interfear with each other. If they are new cables I would imagine they are gonna stretch a little and need some fine tunning.